First decide what type of bike you would like to be on. A cruiser, sport bike, or a dirt bike. Once you decide that your chooses will become limited. Next decide want type of riding you wish to do. Bigger bikes make easy work of droning down the freeways, but are very tiring on tight twisty roads.
Todays 600cc's are light weight with more power that most people can use.

I ride sport bikes and I have several. A fzr1000, fz750, gpz900 and a tz125. The TZ125 blew an engine around 1990 and I never rebuilt it... Perhaps one day... (I also found the tz125 the funnest bike to ride. It felt like flying. To bad it was not legal on the street)

I grew up with dirt riding. The only road I know is as a back rest. I learned that from a young age also. I am tired of buddies that w/o a g/f will ride me. I need my license too & am hoping to get my own bike soon.

What I am looking for is one that I can pick up if I should happen to lay it down. Lowering is usually not a problem. I just go a buck ten, though I am strong, I am not used to a big bike.

I really wish I was good with a wrench because I like the older bikes. Would love to find a Triumph 650 Tiger or even an old 750 AMF (don't dis me on the AMF - please!)

If I am going long distance, I sure hope to find an old man with a bagger! LOL That would be my best ride!

I'm a re-entry rider, but it's been over 15 years. You're doing the right thing going through the class and asking more people than I did.

I have BMW K1200GT but the abs brakes spooked me, soooo decided to back-up a lot. Went out a picked up a little Yamaha Virago, but, I should've gone for a 535 or more instead of the 250 even for a re-entry bike. The 250 is just too small, doesn't go fast enough for the freeways and it tends to skip a bit on the road 'cause it's so light, like my first old dirt/street bike did way back when. But it is easy to maneuver and you can always sell it to another newbie rider when you're ready to move up.

Now I'm doing the right way in reverse haha I go out and sit on a number of bikes of various styles to see what really feels good... what fits me. Can I reach the ground, does the weight feel comfortable when I lean it side to side. But now the big question is do I keep the Beemer and get a bigger cruiser style as well.. Dilemma hehe I like both!

If you're looking at Harley's I hear the Sportser's are okay and the prices are low. But I hear if you ride a lot and plan on going long distance, you'll be selling that down the road to move up to what you really want. I like the dyna's and particulary the low rider. It'll do better for me in the hills and twisties than the wide glide. Am gonna go check out a street bob too next time they get one in.

Yamaha's are way less expensive and you can get a lot for your money. But, it goes back to what do you want.

Once you get your license, see if you have a really good friend with an old bike they'd let you practice on. Or buy a cheap used one like I did that you can resell haha Then when you find the style of bike you like, go rent one for a day. If you buy most of 'em will take the rental price off the top.

mydogintheyard write: Been a HD passenger for the last 10 years. Well, the guy left and took his bike. Now I've got the "itch." Going to take classes this summer and hopefully purchase a bike at the end of the year or the first of next. The question is.........how do you decide what bike you can handle? So let me know what YOU ride. Thanks, Susan

Susan...I hope the ladys respond's by saying ,,," A single 52 year old guy from Arkansas with grey hair and owns a Road King....lmao